Events & festivals

Slovenia has events of all kinds, to suit everyone’s taste. Every day there is a chance to see the work of the best artists from Slovenia and from further afield, while there are concerts and festivals at which to enjoy great music. You can support your favourite team or athlete at sports events, or test your own physical prowess at any number of recreational events. Ethnological and culinary events offer not just entertainment, but a chance to get to know local traditions and tastes. Children too can extend and challenge themselves in Slovenia.

The events with the highest international profile are primarily hosted by Ljubljana and Maribor. Ljubljana is home to Slovenia’s cultural epicentre, Cankarjev Dom, which offers a huge range of events throughout the year. Some of the main cultural events in the capital are music festivals, such as the Summer Festival, the Jazz Festival and Druga Godba. Maribor boasts the outstanding Lent Festival.

A number of other towns host festivals of theatre, dance, music and independent arts.

Sports events range from those involving top-level competitors from around the world, to those designed for recreational participants.

- Major skiing and ski jumping meets are held every year at Mariborsko Pohorje, Kranjska Gora and Planica.

- The world’s best biathletes do battle at Pokljuka.

- The Round Ljubljana Walk is one of the biggest recreational events.

- Huge numbers test themselves in the marathons in Radenci and Ljubljana.

- The Franja Marathon and the Assault on Vršič are among the most popular biking events.

It is at ethnological and culinary events that you can genuinely get to know Slovenia’s customs and traditions.

- Carnival is an unforgettable experience in many towns: Ptuj with its kurents, Cerknica with Zofka the Witch, Drežnica pri Kobaridu, and parades in countless other towns.

- Local artisan traditions can be discovered at the wooden goods fair in Ribnica, the shoemakers’ fair in Tržič and the coachmen’s festival in Postojna.

- Some of the best culinary experiences are to be had in the festivities marking St Martin’s day, when the must officially becomes wine.

- Larger towns also host food and wine fairs.

Children are well catered-for in all the regions of Slovenia, and major conferences and trade fairs are held in Ljubljana, Portorož and Bled. But there are many other events worthy of a visit: workshops, book fairs, entertainment events and events run by NGOs and associations.

The information pertaining to events on www.slovenia.info is updated daily by contributors to the web page (Tourist Association of Slovenia, Tourist Information Centres, Local Councils, Associations for Tourism, event organisers...). We do not guarantee the accuracy of data.